The Vanishing Carpenter’s Impossible Staircase: Santa Fe’s 150-Year Divine Mystery

*Source: Visit Santa Fe

In the heart of Santa Fe, New Mexico, stands what many consider one of America’s most perplexing architectural mysteries. The spiral staircase at Loretto Chapel continues to baffle visitors more than a century after its construction, leaving experts from multiple disciplines scratching their heads and believers pointing toward divine intervention.

This remarkable 20-foot wooden helix makes two complete 360-degree turns without any central support structure or nails holding it together. What makes this even more extraordinary is that after decades of regular use, the staircase has never shown signs of structural failure. The identity of its creator remains unknown, as does the origin of the unique wood used in its construction.

A Chapel’s Dilemma

The story begins in 1872 when the Sisters of Loretto commissioned French architect Projectus Mouly to design their chapel for the girls’ school in Santa Fe. Mouly, working alongside his father Antoine on the nearby Saint Francis Cathedral, created plans based on Paris’s renowned Sainte-Chapelle. The Gothic Revival structure, completed in 1878, featured locally quarried sandstone, imported French stained glass, and intricate architectural details that made it a true masterpiece.

However, a critical oversight emerged: Mouly’s blueprints provided no way to access the choir loft twenty feet above the chapel floor. By the time this problem was discovered, Projectus Mouly had died in a shooting, and his father had returned to France.

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Local carpenters examined the situation and delivered disappointing news. Building a conventional staircase would compromise the chapel’s elegant design and prove impossible given the limited space. The only alternative – climbing ladders in their religious habits – was deemed both inappropriate and dangerous by the nuns.

A Prayer Answered

Faced with no viable solutions, the sisters turned to their faith. They began a novena, nine consecutive days of prayer to Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. According to chapel lore, on the final day, a weathered stranger appeared at their door with a donkey, a toolbox, and an offer to solve their problem.

The mysterious craftsman worked in complete privacy for several months, requesting only solitude and regular supplies of hot water. When he finished, he departed as suddenly as he had arrived, refusing payment for his work.

The sisters discovered an elegant spiral staircase with 33 steps – symbolically representing Christ’s age at crucifixion. The structure was held together entirely by wooden pegs, contained no nails, and was crafted from wood that clearly hadn’t originated in New Mexico.

Decades of Investigation

Richard Lindsley, who has served as chapel curator for over three decades, has witnessed countless attempts to solve the mystery. “People from all different fields – from faith, from science – have gravitated to it, but no one has given me truly convincing evidence,” he explains. “And that’s why I choose to believe that prayers to St. Joseph were deeply involved.”

The most widely accepted theory comes from Santa Fe historian Mary J. Straw Cook, who identified François-Jean “Frenchy” Rochas as the likely builder in her 1984 book about the chapel. Cook pointed to a newspaper article describing Rochas as “an expert worker in wood” and found a payment record for wood purchased from him. However, skeptics note the timing discrepancies and the fact that the sisters were also building a school around that time.

Reba Weatherford, archivist at the Loretto Heritage Center in Kentucky, has received dozens of letters over the years from people claiming family connections to the mysterious carpenter. One particularly poignant letter described a grandfather who disappeared from Nebraska in 1881, possibly seeking to atone for his drinking problems by building the staircase.

Unfortunately, many historical records have been lost over the decades due to fires, relocations, and the natural deterioration of documents, making verification nearly impossible.

An Engineering Marvel

The staircase’s construction continues to amaze modern experts. Built using only hand tools and no electricity, it has withstood regular use for over a century. Archival photographs from 1959 show a 20-member women’s choir assembled on its steps, demonstrating its structural integrity.

Lindsley recalls numerous visits from architects, carpenters, and scientists trying to understand the staircase’s remarkable durability. “Every carpenter I’ve ever met has been amazed,” he notes, remembering one Arizona staircase builder who spent eight hours examining the structure while his patient wife waited.

Interestingly, the original design had one notable flaw: no handrail. The spiral’s spring-like nature caused significant bouncing when climbed, eventually forcing the nuns to crawl down on hands and knees. A railing was added about a decade later, though this detail raises questions about why such a master craftsman would overlook this essential safety feature.

The Mystery Wood

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect involves the staircase’s material. Experts have identified it as spruce, but its origins remain unknown. In 1996, retired U.S. Forest Service technologist Forrest N. Easley conducted a 15-month study and concluded that the wood was unlike any existing spruce species. He suggested it was so unique it deserved its own classification: “Loretto Spruce.”

This finding has reinforced believers’ conviction that the staircase represents divine intervention, as the wood’s mysterious origins seem to defy natural explanation.

A Living Legend

Today, approximately 250,000 people visit Loretto Chapel annually. The former convent school, which closed in 1968, now operates as a privately owned museum and popular wedding venue. The staircase itself remains off-limits to visitors, preserved for future generations to ponder.

The mystery has inspired books, films, songs, and even a comic book, according to Weatherford. Documentary filmmakers and researchers continue contacting the Loretto Heritage Center regularly, though the current sisters remain focused on their mission to “work for justice and act for peace” rather than dwelling on their famous architectural puzzle.

Faith and Mystery Endure

After three decades of fielding questions about the staircase, curator Lindsley remains convinced of its miraculous nature. “I’m always asked my opinion and I have to believe [it’s a miracle],” he states. “And I’ll find out the details on the other side.”

Whether viewed as divine intervention, lost craftsmanship, or an unsolved historical puzzle, the Loretto Chapel staircase continues to captivate visitors from around the world. In an age where technology can solve most mysteries, this 19th-century enigma reminds us that some questions may be more meaningful than their answers.

The chapel stands as a testament to both human ingenuity and the power of faith, where architectural impossibility meets spiritual belief. For those who climb its steps in spirit, if not in person, the staircase represents something beyond mere construction – it embodies the enduring human desire to believe in miracles.

*This article was made possible through revenue supporting Visit Santa Fe’s promotion of the region’s unique attractions and cultural heritage.*​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​